The real reason for camera access permission

PoGo requires access to the phone's camera. Most people think it's for the AR. Actually, there is a huge screen at the Niantic headquarter and each phone's front camera streams the player's face to that display while playing. Every time a player is about to evolve a rare mon, the staff gathers in front of the screen and they go like 'Hey! Coolboy13 is about to evolve his first Dragonite! He's been walking that Dratini for 3 months! Let's have a laugh, shall we? Wait for it...XD' and then they hold the button that orders the server to generate Steel Wing/Hyper Beam for that Dragonite. And then they watch Coolboy13's face while rolling on the floor laughing their asses off. Then the screen cuts to the next player, who is about to get their first Machamp with Bullet Punch/Heavy Slam. That's why they are never able to develop the game or fix any bugs. True story!